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Elections director briefs board on House budget proposals, early‑voting bill and poll‑worker pay
Summary
Director reported the House proposed $11 million one‑time for statewide voting equipment and $4 million recurring for annual election costs; a bill to adjust early‑voting hours was introduced, and the House budget did not include proposed increases for poll‑worker pay or board stipends.
During the director’s report, Miss Smalls briefed the board on recent legislative action and House budget recommendations. She said House Bill 4,140 has been introduced with proposals affecting early‑voting hours and that the House budget includes a one‑time $11,000,000 recommendation for statewide voting equipment upgrades and $4,000,000 in recurring funds for election costs. Miss Smalls summarized: “It was an $11,000,000 one time money for statewide voting equipment upgrades, dollars 4,000,000 for reoccurring money of reoccurring money for annual election cost.”
Board members asked whether the House budget included raises for poll‑worker pay and the board stipend; Miss Smalls said the House version did not include those increases and that the county has separately approved an additional $100 per day for Beaufort County poll workers. Members discussed options to lobby the delegation and to work with state lawmakers during the Senate and conference stages of the budget process.
